St George Illawarra has clung on to post a club-record ninth straight win with a 24-18 defeat of Wests Tigers in their NRL clash at Kogarah Jubilee Oval.

The Dragons' five-tries-to-three victory, which came after a late Tigers comeback, bettered the joint venture club's previous best winning streak of eight wins set in 2005.

With seven players backing up from Wednesday night's State of Origin clash, the home side led 20-6 at the break before in-form centre Mark Gasnier appeared to have scored the sealer in the 61st minute.

But an off day for goalkicker Jamie Soward, who managed just two from four, and a 75th minute try to Tigers back Tim Moltzen brought to mind the Dragons' second-half fade-out against Canterbury two weeks ago.

The gutsy second half display from the Tigers may help dispel reports of player unrest at the club after contracted stars Bryce Gibbs, Liam Fulton and Moltzen were granted permission to negotiate with other clubs.

Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys has admitted the move has been unsettling, while a clear-the-air meeting was reportedly held last week, days after coach Tim Sheens had not allowed the side to sing the team song following an insipid showing in downing strugglers Penrith.

After the match, Dragons forward Ben Creagh lauded the Tigers' attacking flair, saying his side needed to muster all of its experience to shut up shop.

"It did get a bit tight there at the end, we got a bit tired there at the back of the second half - they're a very creative side the Tigers, very dangerous too," he told Grandstand.

"Robbie Farah and Benji [Marshall] like to always skip across the field ... they're very hard to defend, they got us a couple of times today going down the middle and it kind of hurts a bit."

Creagh said while the efforts of backing up from Wednesday's State of Origin match in Brisbane might leave the rep players feeling sore in the morning, it was not a big issue going into the Tigers clash.

"I wasn't feeling too bad today, I only played 40 minutes on Wednesday night," he said.

"I think Beau [Scott] might be a bit sore after playing 80 in the back row ... but I don't think it really matters when you back up, you still have to play another game of footy, so you just have to get your head right for that."

For the Tigers, Andrew Fifita, Matt Utai and Moltzen crossed for four-pointers with Benji Marshall kicking three from three.

The Dragons' half-time lead had come courtesy of four tries to one in the first 40 but the Tigers hit back when Utai capitalised on a long cut-out from Marshall in the 48th minute and the conversion made it 20-12.

Serial Tigers tormentor Gasnier scored his 21st try in 15 games against the club in the 61st minute to have the home side back on top.

But it was Gasnier's attempted flick pass that allowed Moltzen to capitalise on a Robbie Farah grubber and set up a tense finish, the Tigers unable to come up with the match-winning play.